The highly anticipated BLAST Premier: World Final 2024 is set to kick off on October 30, bringing together some of the best Counter-Strike teams in the world to Sentosa, Singapore. With a prize pool of $1,000,000, this season-ending event promises thrilling matches, but experts predict that viewership may be impacted by the tournament’s timing.

Tournament Overview

The World Final will feature eight elite teams competing for the top prize of $500,000. Among the participating teams are:

• Astralis
• NAVI
• MOUZ
• FaZe Clan
• G2 Esports
• Team Liquid
• Team Spirit
• Team Vitality

In collaboration with GG.BET, Esports Charts has been analyzing viewership trends leading up to this event, while also projecting potential viewership for the grand finale.

BLAST Premier's Growth in 2024

Throughout 2024, BLAST Premier has experienced impressive viewership figures for its final events. The Spring Showdown 2024 stood out as one of the most-watched tournaments in the series, achieving a peak viewership of 640.1K, making it the fifth most popular event in BLAST Premier history.

NAVI, who recently won the first-ever Counter-Strike 2 Major, has proven to be a viewership powerhouse. Their appearances in finals have consistently attracted large audiences, and their qualification for the World Final is expected to drive significant viewership again.

Historical Viewership Trends

However, it's essential to recognize that viewership for the World Final has seen a decline since its inception in 2021. The inaugural event attracted over 727K peak viewers, while subsequent years struggled to match those numbers. A noticeable factor contributing to this trend is the absence of teams that resonate with Eastern European fans in the last two iterations.

For instance, the 2022 final featured teams that primarily appeal to an international audience, and the 2023 finals followed suit. To maximize viewership, a match-up between NAVI and G2 Esports in the grand final would be ideal, as these teams draw from different fan bases.

Timezone Concerns

One significant hurdle for the World Final 2024 is its timing. With matches scheduled to begin as early as 7 AM Central European Time, this translates to midnight for North American viewers. Such scheduling could hinder viewership numbers, even in the best-case scenario, where a NAVI vs. G2 final might only attract around 500,000 concurrent viewers. If other teams dominate the finals, numbers could drop to between 300K to 400K peak viewers.

Team Popularity and Betting Trends

Leading up to the World Final, NAVI has emerged as the most popular team, averaging over 307.8K viewers during the 2024 series. Following closely are G2 Esports, Team Vitality, and Team Spirit. Interestingly, while NAVI leads in viewership, Team Vitality and Astralis are drawing significant betting interest.

Fans are particularly excited about Astralis following the signing of CadiaN, a well-known in-game leader in Counter-Strike 2. Although Astralis has struggled recently, finishing 7th-8th in the Fall Final and 9th-12th at IEM Rio 2024, fans are hopeful that CadiaN will help elevate the team's performance.

As the BLAST Premier: World Final 2024 approaches, excitement builds among fans, particularly for the opening match between NAVI and Astralis. Despite concerns about viewership due to timezone challenges, the tournament is expected to deliver high-stakes action and engaging moments. Keep an eye out for live-updating viewership data and further insights on the tournament as it unfolds!